Pre-implementation assessment for introducing direct load control strategies in the residential electricity sector

Demand response (DR) programs are getting wide acceptance among consumers in different parts of the world, and many utility establishments are looking for adopting such programs to meet the growing electricity demand. This paper discusses major focus areas to be considered while planning for introducing direct load control (DLC), one of the popular DR programs, by various stakeholders around the world. One of today's most extensively employed qualitative analytical tools, content analysis, was used in this study. The systematic software-based content analysis procedure followed in this study can be used as a reference for conducting similar studies in any frontier of science. The implementation strategy of DLC around the world was analyzed, and information related to different parameters, such as benefits, challenges, type of load, channels for awareness/marketing, implementation requirements, evaluation methods, and reasons for failure, was discussed in detail. The results of this research have far-fetching implications in effective policy designs for integrated energy planning to implement appropriate projects for sustainable developments. Based on the results, a conditional analysis was carried out to explore the feasibility of introducing DLC in Kuwait, which is one of the highest per capita electricity consuming countries in the world. Two widely used loads, such as air-conditioning units and water heaters, are identified as suitable loads for targeting DLC in Kuwait. These two loads account for a load share of 83% in the residential sector, which consumes 60% of electricity produced in the country. An action plan for implementing the suggested program for a pilot project also presented.